Hundreds of passengers are forced to evacuate Cairns Airport after a security breach

Hundreds of passengers have been evacuated from an Australian airport following a security scare.

Travellers at Cairns Airport, in tropical far north Queensland, were cleared from the terminals shortly before 1pm today.

The airport announced its domestic terminal was evacuated ‘due to a suspected security breach’.

‘All passengers are currently being re-screened and we anticipate operations will return back to normal very soon,’ the airport said on Twitter.

‘We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.’

Several flights have been delayed, with passengers caught in long queues as they go through security again.  

Airport and retail workers were also evacuated.